The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-05-18
In Honolulu.

We entered port at Honolulu, Sand
witch Islands, October o, at six O'Clock
A. NJ, where we remained day and
half to unload freight and take on board
coal. Being advised by the captain
that it would be for our comfort, and
that we should have timely notice of
the sailing of the steamer, we trans
ferred to the Hawaiian Hotel and spent
the respite in sightseeing. During our
voyage from San Francisco we made
the acquaintance of a very agreeable
and accomplished lady, who was ap-
parently a half-caste. On our arrival at
Honolulu we learned she was a native
of Maui Island, a princess. To her
we are indebted to visit to the palace
where King Kalakaua resides. We
entered the hall of the palace, which is
adorned with the portraits of the pres
ent king and queen and their royal
predecessors. An inspection of these
portraits. compared with the majority of
the present native inhabitants, shows
the wonderful progress they have made
in civilization. From woody pate, broad,
fiat nose, thick lips and ebony COM
plexion they are angicized to straight
hair and very respectable approach to
the Caucasian cast of feature and color
of skin, the half-caste predominating in
the island. After few more decades
if an aboriginal of this island should
appear in Honolulu he would cause as
much sensation as genuine Fiji
Islander in native costume would in the
streets of Springfield. We were adj
mitted to the thrOne-room and sat upon
La L. &c l.;
adorned with insignia of the different
orders conferred upon the king by for
eign powers. Next we visited the
council chamber, and then returned to
our hotel. After lunch we drove around
the suburbs and inspected the cocoanut
groves, banana, tara and vegetable
fields. Much credit is due here to the
patient and well-directed labor of the
Chinese gardeners, these supplies
being almost entirely the product of
their industry. After driving through
the avenue of royal palms we drove to
the broad park and for an hour listened
to the delightful music discoursed by
the Hawaii band, which is composed
entirely of natives. 1t is asserted that
this band is the best in the world, and
it surely is more than ordinary. In
the evening we were invited to native
feast at the house of Mrs. Mary Ailau.
Upon the floor of the room was laid, in
the shape of a long table, long green
leaves, and upon these were dishes
containing fish and meat cooked in the
ground, sea crabs, raw fish. Gourds
holding from quart to gallon were
dispersed around the table containing
their favorite dish of poi, and bottles
containing beer, tonic, etc. We were
invited to squat, so, following the Gus.
tom of the natives, fifteen of us, includ-
ing natives, sat cross-legged around the
festive board. Gourds containing per.
fumed water were passed around, each
one dipping their fingers in the water
and wiping them on their napkins
Without further ceremony we were in
vited to help ourselves. Following the
example of our neighbors, we sampled
with our fingers the fish and crabs
which were cooked and they tasted very
nicely; the poi is prepared from tara
root, which is beaten and cooked into {
paste of a sub-acid flavor, and eater
from gourds by dipping two fingers o.
the left hand into the gourd and twist
ing them around until you accumulate
COB, and then transferring it to the
mouth. This requires considerable
practice to do it successfully. The
majority of the initiates failed to &C
complish the act, and declared it TASTED
like sour paste. My right-hand neigh
Dor, lusty and dusty Kanaka, ate
very heartily of raw fish and crabs
devoured two-quart gourd of poi
and washed it down with beer anC
tonic. During the feast we were
entertained with singing with banjo
accompaniment by four male Kanakas
A popularity of their language is thai
every word ends in a vowel. Theil
songs, all on the minor key, are o
weird and plaintive character, though